What Does the Bible Say About Keeping the Sabbath in the New Testament?
The question of Sabbath observance is one that frequently arises in Christian discussions about law, grace, and worship. While the Sabbath plays a central role in the Old Testament, the New Testament shifts how believers understand and practice it. This article explores what the Bible says about keeping the Sabbath in the New Testament, drawing from the teachings of Jesus, the writings of Paul, and the theological transformation brought about by the gospel.
1. What Was the Purpose of the Sabbath?
The concept of the Sabbath is rooted in the creation account. God rested on the seventh day (Genesis 2:2–3), and this pattern was later codified in the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:8–11). In the Old Testament, the Sabbath served several purposes:
A day of rest patterned after God’s rest in creation.
A sign of the covenant between God and Israel (Exodus 31:13).
A time for worship, reflection, and trust in God’s provision.
The Sabbath was intended for human good, not for legalistic oppression. This becomes especially relevant when examining how the New Testament interprets the Sabbath through the ministry of Jesus.
2. How Did Jesus Treat the Sabbath?
The Bible records numerous instances of Jesus interacting with the Sabbath, often in ways that seemed to provoke the religious leaders of his day. In Mark 2:27, Jesus famously said, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.” This reorients the Sabbath as a gift rather than a burden.
Jesus regularly healed on the Sabbath (e.g., Luke 13:10–17; John 5:9–18), demonstrating that acts of mercy were not violations of Sabbath law. These actions challenged the rigid interpretations of the Pharisees, not the principle of rest itself.
Rather than abolishing the Sabbath, Jesus fulfilled its purpose, revealing its deeper intent. He declared himself “Lord of the Sabbath” (Matthew 12:8), placing himself at the center of its meaning. This declaration hinted that the Sabbath, like other aspects of the law, pointed to Christ.
3. What Did Paul Say About the Sabbath?
In the New Testament, particularly in Paul’s letters, the Sabbath is never commanded for Gentile believers. In fact, Paul explicitly warns against making Sabbath observance a requirement:
Colossians 2:16–17: “Let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ.”
Romans 14:5: “One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind.”
For Paul, insisting on Sabbath-keeping as necessary for justification or sanctification was equivalent to going backward under the law. He regarded such requirements as incompatible with the gospel of grace. The Sabbath, like dietary laws and circumcision, was part of the old covenant shadow now fulfilled in Christ.
4. How Did the Early Church Handle the Sabbath?
The Bible indicates that Jewish Christians continued to observe the Sabbath culturally, especially in synagogue contexts (Acts 13:14, 42; Acts 17:2). However, there is no command that Sabbath observance be carried over to Gentile Christians.
The early church instead gathered on the first day of the week, often referred to as “the Lord’s Day” (Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 16:2; Revelation 1:10). This day commemorated Christ’s resurrection and became the primary time for Christian worship and fellowship.
Thus, while the Sabbath (Saturday) retained cultural significance among Jews, the theological weight shifted toward resting in Christ and celebrating new creation life on Sunday.
5. What Is the Sabbath’s Fulfillment in Christ?
The New Testament presents a deeper and more spiritual interpretation of the Sabbath. In Hebrews 4:9–10, the author writes, “So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, for whoever has entered God’s rest has also rested from his works as God did from his.”
This points to the gospel reality that rest is no longer merely about a day, but about finding peace with God through faith in Jesus Christ. True Sabbath rest is ultimately eschatological and spiritual—it is rest from the burdens of self-justification, legalism, and toil under the curse.
Rather than focusing on the external observance of the Sabbath, the New Testament emphasizes abiding in Christ, who gives rest to the weary (Matthew 11:28–30). The Bible’s teaching on Sabbath is thus not about checking off a day of rest, but about experiencing the restful reign of Christ in the soul.
Conclusion: Is Keeping the Sabbath Required in the New Testament?
According to the New Testament, Sabbath-keeping is no longer a binding requirement for Christians. The Bible does not prescribe Sabbath observance as essential under the new covenant, though it does present the principle of rest and worship as enduring and good.
Jesus reframed the Sabbath around himself.
Paul discouraged legalistic enforcement of it.
The early church gathered on the first day, not the seventh.
And the New Testament calls believers to a spiritual rest fulfilled in Christ.
Ultimately, the Bible’s view of the Sabbath in the New Testament is not a rejection of rest but a redefinition of it in light of Jesus’ work. It invites believers not to look backward to the law but forward to the eternal rest that awaits God’s people—already begun now through union with Christ.
Bible verses about the Sabbath in the New Testament:
Matthew 12:8, "For the Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath."
Mark 2:27–28, "And he said to them, 'The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is lord even of the Sabbath.'"
Luke 4:16, "And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. And as was his custom, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and he stood up to read."
Luke 13:14, "But the ruler of the synagogue, indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, said to the people, 'There are six days in which work ought to be done. Come on those days and be healed, and not on the Sabbath day.'"
John 5:18, "This was why the Jews were seeking all the more to kill him, because not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God."
Acts 13:42, "As they went out, the people begged that these things might be told them the next Sabbath."
Acts 17:2, "And Paul went in, as was his custom, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures."
Romans 14:5, "One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind."
Colossians 2:16–17, "Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ."
Hebrews 4:9–10, "So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, for whoever has entered God’s rest has also rested from his works as God did from his."
